5 Outfits Using Pantone Colors of the Year (Part 1)

Pantone released their colors of 2015 (the colors which are supposed to define what will be in style for the next year) a little while ago.  I am really liking their choices this year, and they are actually colors that I have in my closet for the most part (except for the yellow and orange).  So I put together some outfit inspiration using the new colors.  Nothing makes me excited about new outfits like the start of spring.

Aquamarine:

You've all heard about my love of tutu skirts, and I particularly love this aquamarine one!

Scuba Blue:

Lucite Green:

Classic Blue:

I love nautical stripes in a classic navy blue.

Toasted Almond:

Have a lovely Friday!  And if you are looking for some fun reading, check out the Oh Hey Friday link-up at September Farm.

A few of my favorite things

Happy Friday!  I hope you have lots of plans for a joyous Easter weekend.  I am looking forward to lots of family time today and tomorrow and I will be spending my Sunday night with some special ladies and gentlemen at the care home where I am currently working.

I thought we could spend this Friday talking about a few of my favorite things (items, things around the web, etc.).  This might become a regular feature post of mine (my favorite blogger over at The Small Things Blog) does something similar called Links and Loves on Fridays, which I always love reading.

On Wednesday I made french bread from this recipe and it is to die for.  As you can probably guess by no picture, it is almost all gone already.  It was super easy and turned out far better than any bread recipe I have ever done.  So you should definitely give it a try.

I am seriously loving this lip treatment (it hangs out somewhere between lipstick and balm).   I like the color rose - which is quite sheer and just gives a little bit of pink - but if you like something a little brighter there are a ton of color options.

Have you ever watched 19 Kids and Counting?  I just started and got super into it before Jessa's wedding.  I am now obsessed.  Brett is pretty sad about this because he is not a fan, but I just think he isn't giving it enough of a try.

Speaking of entertainment, have you seen the commercials for the movie The Longest Ride coming out on April 10th?  Brett is supposed to be taking me on a date to see it.  I think he is hoping seeding will miraculously start before next Saturday so he can have an excuse not to go, but since we just got some snow yesterday (what the heck), I think I will be in luck.  In any case, I just read the book as well and it was wonderful.  I am a huge Nicholas Sparks fan and he did not disappoint with this one.  I would definitely suggest it (and keep a box of tissues handy).

Last, but not least, this was a great post from The Small Things Blog yesterday about getting three days out of your hair.  Her tips were super helpful.  Because I have extremely dry hair, I try to make three days between washes - but it isn't always easy.  If you have a similar issue, or if you just don't have time for hairstyling every day, you should definitely check that post out.

I hope you have a lovely weekend and get to spend it surrounded by the things and people you love!

Currently - April 2015 Update

Easter pictures with my mother in law and grandma in law.

Baking: This pecan pie for Easter suppers last week.  Yum!

Drinking: Lots of ice cold sweet tea.  I am officially obsessed, especially with all of the night shifts I've been doing.  There is just enough caffeine to get me over that 3AM slump.

Reading: I've read a few really good books lately.  I finished the first Outlander book by Diana Gabaldon and it was wonderful.  I am now half way through the second, it started a little slower but is really picking up now.  I also just finished The Longest Ride by Nicolas Sparks and cannot say enough good things about it (I'm pretty sure I finished it in about two days).

Wanting: Warm weather!  We had a little shot of warmth last week and just yesterday got snow.  I am ready for sun and warmth and skirts and no more winter jackets! 

Looking: For a dress to wear to our upcoming weddings this summer.

Sewing: Something special for a new addition to the family (more on this in a few weeks).

Enjoying: Being done classes and not having any papers to write.  It has been such a relief to not have any due dates hanging over my head the past couple of weeks.

Wearing: Nothing but scrubs lately.  I've been filling my time with care aid shifts now that clinical is over and I can't work as a nurse yet.  Grey's Anatomy brand scrubs are a particular favorite of mine.  I've even been wearing clean ones to sleep in occasionally.  I think Brett is starting to worry about my ability to dress myself in regular human clothes.

Waiting: To get my marks back so I can work as a grad nurse.  I am so excited to start my career after five long years of school.

Loving: My time at home.  This is my first spring that I haven't been in the city in school and this time spent at home with Brett has been wonderful.  Life finally is feeling like it has a semi-normal (as normal as things get with shift work) rhythm.

Anticipating: Summer weddings!  Only 2.5 months until the first.

Smelling: Fresh air.  Despite the latest cool weather, I have had the windows open at every opportunity to get some of that lovely spring air in the house.

Praying: For a prompt start to seeding and a brief reprieve from precipitation so we can get the seed in the ground in a timely manner.

Feeling: Blessed to have had such lovely time with our families this past weekend for Easter suppers.

Pecan Pie Recipe

Are you still looking for a dessert recipe for this weekend?  If so, stop what you are doing and get ready to make this super easy and delicious pecan pie recipe.

In terms of effort, this is by far the most simple and quick pie I have in my repertoire.  Including making the pie crust, this pie took me only 30 minutes to prepare (from start to in the oven).

The recipe card:

Helpful Tips:

1.  If you want this to really be easy, you could just buy a pre-made pie shell (just make sure it is unbaked).  If you want to use my recipe, you can see a recipe and tutorial here.

Yum!  Essentially a big bowl of liquid sugar.

2.  When whisking everything together, I suggest melting the butter in a glass measuring cup, then using that same cup to measure out the corn syrup - it makes the corn syrup much easier to pour out.

 3.  After arranging my pecans on the bottom and pouring in the egg mixture, I gently folded my pie crust so that it was straight up and not folded flush with the curved edge of my pie plate.  You can only do this if you make your own pie crust, but it allows it to shrink down a little nicer when you bake it (this is really for looks only - it will taste the same no matter what).

Edge of the crust is folded from where I trimmed it after putting it in the plate.

Here the edge is unfolded and sticking straight up past the edge of the pie plate.

You are done!  I love that this pie seems fancy (I always get comments on how "fancy" it seems) but it is actually so easy to make.  Enjoy!

Wedding season is upon us!

If you are anything like Brett and I, you will be looking forward to a number of weddings this spring/summer.  Weddings are by far my favorite part of the summer season - I love getting dressed up, doing my hair and makeup, dancing, and of course bawling my eyes out at the ceremony.

In anticipation of the coming wedding season, I put together a few outfits for inspiration (I can see a new dress in my near future).

Of course you should be sure to accessorize your outfit with waterproof makeup!

It's been a while...

Wow, long time no see.  The past weeks/months have been spent in a blur of bathroom renovation, night shifts, paper writing, not really seeing my husband, and essentially barely keeping my head above water.

BUT!  A week ago I finished my last night shift of my final practicum.  So essentially I am finished my nursing degree, I have no finals this term, all I am waiting on are the official marks saying I passed.  That definitely has not sunk in yet - and I honestly don't think it will until September rolls around and I'm not heading back to the city for school.  I am so thankful for the amazing final preceptorship that I had.  Let me tell you, rural nursing is not for the faint of heart.  I had some crazy experiences (some of which I hope will remain once-in-a-lifetime) and met some awesome people who I hope to be able to work with again soon.

Last day of school selfie!  Taken before the night shift (no one needs to see what I would look like after).

In celebration of finishing my degree, I got my grad present!  A Canon Rebel T5-i.  I am so excited.  I haven't done much with manual mode yet, as I am just getting used to navigating the different auto modes.  I have, however, done some really amazing work with the high speed sports setting.  Exhibit A:

Also, we finished (and by we finished, I mean our contractor finished) our bathroom reno!  Start to finish it took about three weeks (which could have been two if our tile hadn't taken a millennium to arrive).  We are so happy with the outcome.  There are a few finishing touches left, such as framing the mirror and a few paint touch-ups, but here are some reveal pics!

That is about all that is new around these parts.  You can expect me back to my regular posting schedule from here on out (baring any major bouts of writer's block or night-shift brain of course).  Have an excellent week!!

The heat is on... On the bathroom

There comes a time in every home owner's life, that a leaky tap inevitably becomes a full out gut-the-bathroom reno.  Wait, that doesn't happen in your life?  I guess we are just the lucky ones.

This post about the installation of our front doorknob pretty much sums up how home reno projects have gone for Brett and I so far.  Even painting has not come without its casualties (such as my mother falling head first down our stairs because we laid down painting plastic down the stairs in about the dumbest way humanly possible).  So you can see why I am filled with extreme trepidation and dread when I think of this bathroom reno.

I do, however, love the design ideas part of a reno.  So I whipped up an inspiration board for what I/we hope to achieve in the new space.

1.  We want to do a glass half-door rather than a shower curtain.

2.  I am so excited to have a nice soaker tub, I haven't had a bath in ages.

3.  Two words, Rain. Showerhead.

4.  I love these old-school faucets.

5.  We want to do subway tiles for the tub/shower surround.

6.  And I am in love with these hexagon floor tiles.

7.  I find this lamp to be really pretty and different.

8.  The wall color we like is called Adirondack Blue from Behr.

9.  This mirror from Pottery Barn is something I think we are going to try construct a dupe for (that should be interesting).

10.  We want to do something similar to this vanity with the white on white look.

11.  I absolutely love this oxford strip rug from Pottery Barn.

Have you recently done a bathroom/other reno?  Any tips on staying sane?